July 10, 2016

In today's Gospel, Jesus sends 72 disciples on a long journey and told them to take nothing. How many of you can go on a long trip with your children and not bring along things that will keep them occupied so that time will go by faster? The lesson being taught here is that in order to follow Jesus and to do His work, we should not rely on anything but the grace of God. Not an easy task. Daily each of us in one way or another are distracted by the things that we want and find it hard to stay focused on what we really need; a good relationship with Him.

While on vacation, some friends and I traveled down 390 to Corning, New York and then came back by Route 14A. It was a beautiful ride and we truly enjoyed the beauty of God's painting of the mountains, the wineries, farms and small vintage towns. For nine hours we took the time to just talk, enjoy each other’s company and catch up on what is happening in each of our lives. Coming home we remembered the different experiences that each of us had along Route 14. One of my friends had grown up near Dresden New York and we went down by the house she grew up in. Great memories of fishing with dad, picking blueberries and just enjoying Nature. I had been stationed at Seneca Army Depot for two years and when I wasn't traveling along the east coast for work I spent many hours walking through Watkins Glen, and all of the other parks in the Southern Tier. When we got back to Rochester we realized that we had just spent one of the most peaceful days we have had in a long time. We did nothing but talk to each other and remember great times. Sometimes that is all we have to do to be in God's grace. Let go, relax and enjoy God's beautiful creations.

God bless, Judy

57 Cent Church

This is a true story which took place around 1884. A little girl stood near a small church from which she had been turned away because it was "too crowded." "I can't go to Sunday School," she sobbed to the pastor as he walked by. Seeing her shabby, unkempt appearance, the pastor guessed the reason and, taking her by the hand, took her inside and found a place for her in the Sunday school class. The child was so happy that they found room for her, and she went to bed that night thinking of the children who have no place to worship Jesus. Some two years later, this child lay dead in one of the poor tenement buildings. Her parents called for the kind hearted pastor who had befriended their daughter to handle the final arrangements. As her poor little body was being moved, a worn and crumpled red purse was found which seemed to have been rummaged from some trash dump. Inside was found 57 cents and a note, scribbled in childish handwriting, which read: "This is to help build the little church bigger so more children can go to Sunday School." For two years she had saved for this offering of love. When the pastor tearfully read that note, he knew instantly what he would do. Carrying this note and the cracked, red pocketbook to the pulpit, he told the story of her unselfish love and devotion. He challenged his deacons to get busy and raise enough money for the larger building. But the story does not end there.... A newspaper learned of the story and published it. It was read by a wealthy realtor who offered them a parcel of land worth many thousands. When told that the church could not pay so much, he offered to sell it to the little church for 57 cents. Church members made large donations. Checks came in from far and wide... within five years the little girl's gift had increased to $250,000.00 a huge sum for that time (near the turn of the century). Her unselfish love had paid large dividends. When you are in the city of Philadelphia, look up Temple Baptist Church, with seating capacity of 3,300. And be sure to visit Temple University where thousands of students are educated. Also, look at the Good Samaritan Hospital and at a Sunday School building which houses hundreds of beautiful children. This building was built so that no child in the area will ever need to be left outside during Sunday school time. In one of the rooms of this building may be seen the picture of the sweet face of the little girl whose 57 cents, so sacrificially saved, made such remarkable history. Alongside of it is a portrait of her kind pastor, Dr. Russell H. Conwell, author of the book, "Acres of Diamonds". It is amazing what God can do with 57 cents.